Thus says the Lord GOD: For this prophetic introduction, see Ezek 25.3.

Because Moab said, Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations: The Moabites sinned by claiming that Judah was no different from any other nation. They did not respect the special status of the Jews as the chosen people of God. This was also an insult to God. For many readers it is helpful to identify Moab as “the country of Moab” or “the people of Moab” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation). Most translations identify Moab as the only object of this prophecy. However, the Hebrew text adds “and Seir” (New International Version, King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; see also the footnotes in Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). “Seir” was a mountain in Edom, and the term was often used for the nation of “Edom” (New International Reader’s Version, New Century Version; Contemporary English Version footnote). It is unexpected for Edom to be included here because the rest of the prophecy does not address Edom at all, and in verses 12-14 there is a separate prophecy against Edom. That is no doubt why so many translations omit it, but textually there is no justification to do so according to Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. It is therefore better to retain “Seir” or “Edom” in translation, even if it sounds strange in the context. Because Moab said is better rendered “Because the countries of Moab and Seir said” or “Because the people of Moab and Edom said.” For the attention-getting word Behold, see Ezek 25.7. The house of Judah refers to the people of Judah (see Ezek 25.3). The house of Judah is like all the other nations may be rendered “The nation of Judah is no different from any other nation” (similarly Contemporary English Version, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible).

As in the previous prophecies of this chapter, it may not be natural in many languages to begin with the connector Because. If so, translators may render verses 8-9a as follows:

• 8 The Lord Yahweh said, “The countries of Moab and Seir said that the people of Judah are just like any other nation. 9 Because of that….

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .